Open source means that the source code of the software is available for free to everyone and you can modify the code (to the extent that the license permits) and distribute it yourself.

Steps

1

Use different open source projects like Linux, Solaris, Firefox, Filezilla, Apache HTTP Server, Gaim, and others.

2

Look for a place to contribute. This means not only programming, but also documentation, theme design, art work, or architectural design.

3

Note that each project has its own distinct methods for communication and submitting contributions.

4

Join the mailing list. This is highly recommended because you will never feel that you are left behind. You can also get feedback on patches and contributions.

5

Respect and maintain discussions.

6

Encourage contributions.

7

Start small by reporting and fixing bugs.

8

Submitting small patches containing bug fixes.

9

Respond and send feedback.

10

If you really want to help but don't have the experience or the know-how, donate! By giving a few dollars to help out open source developers, you can help them get the tools they need to build better programs.

Community Q&A

Tips

Learn the Command Line, Git and GitHub. This will help you a lot with the contribution process.

Warnings

"Talk is cheap. Show me the code." -Linus Torvalds, creator of Linux. Don't defend bad code. Show the code to the community.

Learn the specific toolchain used by the project before contributing. This can include the build system, harness for unit tests, bug tracking software, version control system, and communication channels used by the developers and users.